Birth: Before 1312 Greencross, Churt, Farnham, Surrey, UK
Father: John de Cruche (Cruce, Crouche, Cruch') b1263-c1307
Mother: Joan de Cruche b1263-1308/12
Marriage: About 1345
Husband : Richard le Chesmon (Cheeseman) b1319-a1350
Death: After 1349 Greencross, Churt, Farnham, Surrey
Taken from the Manorial Fines for Churt in Churt: A Medieval Landscape by Philip Brookes 2000.
Joan daughter of John atte Crouche paid 13/4d for messuage and virgate of Tounsend (also called Townsend, and now known as Greencross) from her father in 1341. It is assumed that her father John atte Crouche is the same person as John de Cruce. She must have been younger than her sister Alice as Alice occupied the land from 1312. It is assumed that the land was still in her father's name. In 1341 Richard Chisman paid an unknown amount for Joan and her land. In 1344 Joan paid 12d for 1 acre of "more" (moor?) from Robert atte Holeland (a Robert atte Holelonde occupied Patifolde, Elstead from 1308 to before 1328 - this is a strop of land running up into the Punch Bowl). In 1344 Richard atte Crouche paid 12d for Joan and her land. Is this the same Richard? However in 1349 Richard was in default of rent for messuage and virgate of Tounsend, 8/4d being due. In 1350 4/2 was due and paid at Easter, but Richard then gave up the tenancy. This was the time the Black Death arrived.
Taken from entries in the Winchester Pipe Rolls from
SN4086 Peasant Land Market in Southern England, 1260-1350.
1342 Farnham, Surrey: Joan atte Crouch' paid 13/4d for messuage and virgate in Churt, previous held by her father John.
1342 Farnham, Surrey: Richard le Chesmon (Cheeseman) paid 13/4d for messuage and virgate to have in marriage to Joan atte Crouch'. I think that Richard changed his last name to Crouch after this.
1345 Farnham, Surrey: Joan atte Crouch' paid 12d for 1 acre of moor purpresture in Ellested' (Elstead) previous held by her kin Robert atte Holehond (Holland) (MS 'consanguinei'). I assume he was her uncle by marriage to Matilda atte Crouch'
1345 Farnham, Surrey: Richard atte Crouche paid 12d for 1 acre of moor purpresture in Ellested' (Elstead) to have in marriage to Joan atte Crouche.
1348 Farnham, Surrey: William le Hattere (Hatter) paid 2/6d for the surrender of one acre of moor purpresture previously held by Richard atte Cruch' and his wife Joan atte Cruch' (examined about this in court).
1349 Farnham, Surrey: Son John atte Crouche paid 4/- for 1 toft and 8 acres of villein land and half a rood of purpresture in (Dogoflod' (Dogflood just south of East Street) previous held by Joan atte Crouch'.
Acre - a customary acre which in Farnham Manor was about half a modern acre
Messuage - a dwelling house and legal rights such as access to commons etc.
Purpresture -secondary quality land not subject to the obligations placed on bondland, and which therefore could be exchanged more freely
Rood - quarter of an acre
Toft - the land once occupied by a dwelling house
Villein land - land rented from the lord
Virgate - the Farnham Manor virgate was about 32 modern acres - see Medieval Farnham by Father (Etienne) Robo 1935.
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